Prepared in cooperation with the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the Navajo Nation, and the Hopi Tribe Geologic Map of the Tuba City 30’ x 60’ Quadrangle, Coconino County, Northern Arizona By George H. Billingsley, Philip W. Stoffer, and Susan S. Priest Pamphlet to accompany Scientific Investigations Map 3227 2012 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey This page intentionally left blank Contents Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................1 Geography .............................................................................................................................................1 Previous Work ...............................................................................................................................................1 Mapping Methods .........................................................................................................................................2 Geologic Setting ............................................................................................................................................2 Precambrian Rocks ......................................................................................................................................3 Paleoproterozoic ..................................................................................................................................3 Mesoproterozoic ..................................................................................................................................3 Neoproterozoic .....................................................................................................................................3 Paleozoic Rocks ............................................................................................................................................4 Cambrian ...............................................................................................................................................4 Devonian ................................................................................................................................................4 Mississippian ........................................................................................................................................4 Pennsylvanian ......................................................................................................................................4 Permian ..................................................................................................................................................4 Mesozoic Rocks ............................................................................................................................................5 Moenkopi Formation ............................................................................................................................5 Chinle Formation ..................................................................................................................................6 Moenave Formation .............................................................................................................................6 Kayenta Formation ...............................................................................................................................7 Kayenta Formation-Navajo Sandstone Transition Zone ................................................................7 Navajo Sandstone ................................................................................................................................7 Carmel Formation .................................................................................................................................7 Entrada Sandstone-Cow Springs Sandstone ..................................................................................7 Dakota Sandstone ................................................................................................................................8 Mancos Shale .......................................................................................................................................8 Cenozoic Volcanic Rocks ............................................................................................................................8 Pliocene-Pleistocene Gravel Deposits ............................................................................................8 Quaternary Surficial Deposits .....................................................................................................................8 Surficial Mapping Technique .............................................................................................................8 Local Surficial Deposits ......................................................................................................................9 Structural Geology ........................................................................................................................................9 Acknowledgments ......................................................................................................................................11 Description of Map Units ...........................................................................................................................11 Surficial Deposits ...............................................................................................................................11 Volcanic Rocks ...................................................................................................................................16 Sedimentary Rocks ............................................................................................................................16 Neoproterozoic Rocks ......................................................................................................................24 Mesoproterozoic Rocks ....................................................................................................................26 Paleoproterozoic Rocks ....................................................................................................................27 References Cited .........................................................................................................................................27 i Conversion Factors Inch/Pound to SI Multiply By To obtain Length inch (in.) 2.54 centimeter (cm) inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter (mm) foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m) mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km) mile, nautical (nmi) 1.852 kilometer (km) yard (yd) 0.9144 meter (m) Area acre 4,047 square meter (m2) acre 0.4047 hectare (ha) acre 0.4047 square hectometer (hm2) acre 0.004047 square kilometer (km2) square foot (ft2) 929.0 square centimeter (cm2) square inch (in2) 0.09290 square meter (m2) square foot (ft2) 6.452 square centimeter (cm2) section (640 acres or 1 square mile) 259.0 square hectometer (hm2) square mile (mi2) 259.0 hectare (ha) square mile (mi2) 2.590 square kilometer (km2) ii Introduction Plateau, Kaibito Plateau, and Marble Plateau (east of Marble Canyon) as defined by Billingsley and others, 1997 (fig. 1, This geologic map is a cooperative effort of the U.S. sheet 3). Shinumo Altar, Blue Moon Bench, Limestone Ridge, Geological Survey (USGS) in collaboration with the National Bodaway Mesa, Yon Dot Mountains, Red Point Hills, and the Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the Navajo Nation, and Painted Desert are collectively referred to as part of the Marble the Hopi Tribe to provide regional geologic information for Plateau. Landmark features of the Kaibito Plateau east of the resource management officials and for visitor information Echo Cliffs include Preston Mesa, Middle Mesa, a portion of services of the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, White Mesa, Tuba Butte, and Wildcat Peak. The Moenkopi the Navajo Nation, and the Hopi Tribe. Funding for the map Plateau in the southeast corner of the map area includes Coal was provided by the U.S. Geological Survey National Geologic Mine Mesa. Coal Mine Canyon erodes into Coal Mine Mesa Mapping Program, Reston, Virginia. and is a tributary to Moenkopi Wash. Elevation ranges from Field work on the Navajo Nation lands was conducted about 2,480 ft (756 m) at the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, under a permit from the Navajo Nation Minerals Department. southwest corner of map, to about 8,860 ft (2,700 m) on the Anyone wishing to conduct geologic investigations on the Kaibab Plateau, north rim of Grand Canyon near Point Imperial, Navajo Nation lands must first apply for, and receive, a permit west-central edge of map. from the Navajo Nation Minerals Department, P.O. Box 1910, Settlements within the Tuba City quadrangle area include Window Rock, Arizona 86515, (928) 871-6587. Permission to Tuba City, Moenkopi, Moenave, The Gap, and Cedar Ridge. conduct field work on portions of the Hopi Moenkopi District Not shown are the small communities of Coal Mine Canyon at the south-central edge of the map was granted by the Depart- about 1 mi (1.6 km) south of the southeast corner of the map ment of Natural Resources of the Hopi Tribe. Any person wish- and Tonalea about 1.6 km (1 mi) northeast of the northeast ing to conduct geological investigations within Hopi lands must corner of the map. obtain permission from the Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Highway 160 and State Highway